Nurses, administrative and maintenance workers at Hadassah Medical Center, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, stage a walk-out February 16, in protest at not receiving their full wages for January.(Photo by: YONATHAN SINDEL / FLASH 90)

Hadassah hospitals to run on emergency schedule

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH04/30/2014

Histadrut announces Hadassah strike starting Thursday following impasse in negotiations with the government.

If there is no significant progress in negotiations beginning on Wednesday afternoon over the Hadassah Medical Organization financial crisis, its two Jerusalem hospitals will function on a highly reduced emergency schedule starting on Thursday at 10 a.m., the Histadrut announced.

General Labor Federation deputy secretary-general Avi Nissenkorn said Wednesday that the workers have shown endless patience and behaved with responsibility.

“But the way the Finance and Health Ministries are conducting themselves in the talks will lead to HMO being dismantled. We will not agree,” he stressed. “The workers have made enough concessions.”

Without significant movement to end the crisis, said Nissenkorn, thousands of Hadassah employees will “take to the streets” around the country and demonstrate.